Misting fan

ABSTRACT

A misting fan system includes a fan and a mister positioned above the fan. The fan includes a motor and a plurality of fan blades operably coupled thereto. Each of the fan blades comprises a base member and a paddle member mated to the base member, and each paddle member comprises an upper surface and a lower surface. A hydrophobic coating may be applied to at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the paddle member of at least one of the plurality of fan blades.

BACKGROUND

Misting systems are used to convert water or other liquids into a mistor fog. A mist of ultra-fine water droplets introduced into warm or hotair quickly evaporates, absorbing heat from and thereby cooling the air.It is known in the art to combine water mists with moving air by placinga mister near a fan. In such systems, the mist is pulled into the fan'sair stream, causing the mist to be distributed over a greater airvolume, and at the same time increasing convective cooling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example misting fan system, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the example misting fan system of FIG. 1, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the example misting fan system of FIG. 1, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mister of the example misting fansystem of FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interior of the mister of FIG. 4, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the interior of the mister ofFIG. 4, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Known misting fan systems and apparatuses may not adequately dispersemist that is projected to the fan. For example, in some systems, waterdroplets may accumulate on the fan blades and, where the fan is aceiling fan, the droplets may fall off of the fan blades. As a result,instead of dispersing the volume of water expelled by the mister asmist, a portion of the mist may fall as larger water droplets onoccupants of the space in which the fan is used.

A misting fan system according to the present disclosure can improveupon the mist dispersion provided by known misting fan systems byincluding one of several features that reduce the amount of mist thataccumulates on the fan blades as droplets. For example, a misting fansystem may include a hydrophobic coating on the upper and/or lowersurfaces of one or more (e.g., all) of the fan's blades. In anotherexample, one or more of the fan's blades may include a leading edge thatis thinner than the trailing edge. In another example, the mister may bearranged with respect to the fan blades such that that misted releasesmist directly above at least a portion of the paddle portion of one ormore of the fan blades. These features may be incorporated alone or invarious combinations, in embodiments, to provide a misting fan systemwith improved mist dispersion.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with thepreferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intendedto limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications andequivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the claims. Furthermore, in the detaileddescription of the present invention, numerous specific details are setforth in order provide a thorough understanding of the presentinvention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in theart that the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components,and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarilyobscure aspects of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to the sameor similar features in the various views, FIGS. 1-3 are perspective,front and bottom views, respectively, of an example misting fan system10 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Theexample misting fan system 10 includes a fan 12 and a mister 14positioned above the fan 12. The fan 12 includes a motor and a pluralityof fan blades 16 operably coupled to the motor so as to be rotated bythe motor. Each of the fan blades 16 includes a base member 22 and apaddle member 24 mated to the base member 22. Each paddle member 24includes an upper surface 26 and a lower surface 28. Each paddle member24 also includes a leading edge 30 and a trailing edge 32 relative to adirection of movement of the paddle member 24 when the fan 12 is inoperation. Each paddle member 24 further includes an inner end 34proximate the motor and an outer end 36 distal to the motor, wherein theinner end 34 is spaced a first distance D away from a central axis A.The central axis A may be an axis of rotation of the paddle members, inan embodiment. In operation, the mister may produce a mist and may expelthat mist towards the fan blades. When rotated by the motor, the fanblades may disperse the mist.

The example misting fan system 10 includes a fan 12 that is depicted anddescribed herein as a ceiling fan. Accordingly, references to “upper”,“lower”, “above”, below”, and similar directional terms are with respectto gravity.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the uppersurface 26 and the lower surface 28 of the paddle member 24 of at leastone of the plurality of fan blades 16 may include a hydrophobic coating.In an embodiment, both the upper surface 26 and the lower surface 28 ofat least one paddle member 24 may include the hydrophobic coating. In anembodiment, at least one of the upper surface 26 and the lower surface28 of each paddle member 24 may include the hydrophobic coating. Thehydrophobic coating may optionally be UV resistant (that is, resistantto ultraviolet light).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the leading edge 30 of atleast one of the paddle members 24 is thinner than the trailing edge 32of that paddle member 24. In an embodiment, each paddle member 24includes a leading edge 30 that is thinner than its trailing edge 32. Asnoted above, the leading edge 32 of a paddle member may be determined bythe direction of movement of the fan 12. As is known in the art, ceilingfans may include a selectable rotation direction—a first direction forwarm-weather operation, and the reverse direction for cold-weatheroperation. The relevant direction of movement may be for use inwarm-weather operation, when misting fan systems are generally used inorder to cool a space. As is also known in the art, fan blades may beangled with respect to the ground. In warm-weather operation of aceiling fan, the fan blades may be angled such that the leading edge ishigher than the trailing edge, such that rotation of the paddle members24 pushes air down through the paddle members 24. Accordingly, a ceilingfan in a fan system according to the present disclosure may includeblades having leading edges that are lower than their trailing edges.

Each paddle member 24 may be made of plastic, in some embodiments.However, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, inother embodiments, the paddle members 24 may be made of any suitablematerial, such as for instance, wood, aluminum, etc., or a combinationof two or more suitable materials.

The example fan 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 includes five fan blades 16.However, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, thefan 12 may include as few as two fan blades 16, or three, four, five, ormore fan blades 16, or any other appropriate quantity of blades 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the example misting fan system 10 may furtherinclude a support shaft 38 connected to the fan 12 for supporting thefan 12 to an upper support surface, such as a ceiling, therebysupporting the fan above a ground surface. The fan 12 may furtherinclude a fan motor housing 40 that contains the fan motor to which theblades are coupled. In an embodiment, the mister 14 is mechanicallycoupled to the support shaft 38. Additionally or alternatively, themister 14 may be mechanically coupled to the fan motor housing 40. Itwill be appreciated, however, that the mister 14 may be coupled to thefan 12 using any suitable method or type of coupling.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the mister 14 comprises a housing 42 anda manifold assembly 44 disposed within the housing 42. The housing 42may be made of plastic, such as a heat-resistant and humidity-resistantthermoplastic, for example. Any other appropriate materials andconstruction may be used for the mister housing 42. The manifoldassembly 44 comprises an inlet 46 for a pressurized liquid. The inlet 46may be in fluid communication with a fluid source, such as a pump.

The mister housing 42 may be substantially circular and may include aninner radius 48 and an outer radius 50. In an embodiment, the outerradius 50 is greater than the first distance D between the inner end 34of the of the paddle member 24 and the axis A. As a result, east aportion of the mister housing 42 is disposed directly over at least aportion of one or more of the paddle members 24. It will be appreciated,however, that the housing 42 need not be substantially circular, butrather may be any suitable shape.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the mister 14 may further comprise a plurality ofnozzles 52 disposed within the housing 42 and radially spaced from eachother around an outer periphery of the housing 42. Each of the pluralityof nozzles 52 is in fluid communication with the manifold assembly 44and includes an orifice (not shown) for spraying the pressurized liquid(not shown) outwardly from the manifold assembly 44. The housing 42 mayalso further include a plurality of holes 54 formed in an outer wall 56thereof for allowing the pressurized liquid to spray outwardly from thehousing 42. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of nozzles 52 is atleast partially disposed within the outer wall 56 of the housing 42. Inan embodiment, each of the plurality of nozzles 52 is disposedcompletely within the outer wall 56 of the housing 42. Accordingly, inembodiments, the nozzles 52 may be disposed along the outer radius 50 ofthe housing, and thus may be disposed directly over at least a portionof one or more of the paddle members 24.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the example manifold assembly 44 may furthercomprise a plurality of fittings 58. The housing 42 may comprise aplurality of snap-fit connections 60 spaced along an interior surface 62thereof for securing the plurality of fittings 58. Each of the pluralityof fittings 58 may be coupled to one of the plurality of nozzles 52.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

We claim:
 1. A misting fan system comprising: a fan including a motorand a plurality of fan blades operably coupled thereto, each of the fanblades comprising a base member and a paddle member mated to the basemember, each paddle member comprising an upper surface and a lowersurface; a hydrophobic coating applied to at least one of the uppersurface and the lower surface of the paddle member of at least one ofthe plurality of fan blades; and a mister positioned above the fan. 2.The misting fan system of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic coating is UVresistant.
 3. The misting fan system of claim 1, wherein each of thepaddle members is made of plastic.
 4. The misting fan system of claim 1,further comprising a support shaft connected to the fan for supportingthe fan above a ground surface, wherein the mister is coupled to thesupport shaft.
 5. The misting fan system of claim 1, wherein the mistercomprises: a housing that is substantially circular; and a manifoldassembly disposed within the housing, the manifold assembly comprisingan inlet for a pressurized liquid, wherein the inlet is in fluidcommunication with a fluid source.
 6. The misting fan system of claim 5,wherein the mister further comprises a plurality of nozzles disposedwithin the housing and radially spaced apart from each other, whereineach of the plurality of nozzles is in fluid communication with themanifold assembly and includes an orifice for spraying the pressurizedliquid outwardly from the manifold assembly, and wherein the housingfurther includes a plurality of holes formed in an outer wall thereoffor allowing the pressurized liquid to spray outwardly from the housing;wherein each of the plurality of nozzles is at least partially disposedwithin the outer wall of the housing; wherein the manifold assemblyfurther comprises a plurality of fittings; wherein the housing comprisesa plurality of snap-fit connections spaced along an interior surfacethereof for securing the plurality of fittings; wherein each of theplurality of fittings is coupled to a nozzle having an orifice formedtherein for spraying the pressurized liquid outwardly from the manifoldassembly.
 7. A misting fan system comprising: a fan including a motorand a plurality of fan blades operably coupled thereto, each of the fanblades comprising a base member and a paddle member mated to the basemember, each paddle member comprising a leading edge and a trailing edgerelative to a direction of movement of the paddle member when the fan isin operatic wherein the leading edge is thinner than the trailing edge;and a mister positioned above the fan.
 8. The misting fan system ofclaim 7, further comprising a support shaft connected to the fan forsupporting the fan above a ground surface, wherein the mister is coupledto the support shaft.
 9. The misting fan system of claim 7, furthercomprising a fan motor housing connected to the fan, wherein the misteris coupled to the fan motor housing.
 10. The misting fan system of claim7, wherein the leading edge is higher than the trailing edge.
 11. Themisting fan system of claim 7, wherein the mister comprises: a housingthat is substantially circular; and a manifold assembly disposed withinthe housing, the manifold assembly comprising an inlet for a pressurizedliquid, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with a fluid source.12. The misting fan system of claim 11, mister further comprises aplurality of nozzles disposed within the housing and radially spacedapart from each other, wherein each of the plurality of nozzles is influid communication with the manifold assembly and includes an orificefor spraying the pressurized liquid outwardly from the manifoldassembly, wherein the housing further includes a plurality of holesformed in an outer wall thereof for allowing the pressurized liquid tospray outwardly from the housing, and wherein each of the plurality ofnozzles is at least partially disposed within the outer wall of thehousing.
 13. The misting fan system of claim 12, wherein the manifoldassembly further comprises a plurality of fittings, wherein the housingcomprises a plurality of snap-fit connections spaced along an interiorsurface thereof for securing the plurality of fittings, and wherein eachof the plurality of fittings is coupled to a nozzle having an orificeformed therein for spraying the pressurized liquid outwardly from themanifold assembly.
 14. A misting fan system comprising: a fan includinga motor and a plurality of fan blades operably coupled thereto, the fanblades each comprising a base member and a paddle member mated to thebase member, each paddle member comprising an inner end proximate themotor and an outer end distal to the motor, wherein the inner end isspaced a first distance away from a central axis; a fan motor housingconnected to the fan; a support shaft connected to the fan forsupporting the fan above a ground surface; and a mister positioned abovethe fan, the mister comprising a substantially circular housing havingan inner radius and an outer radius, wherein the outer radius is greaterthan the first distance, and wherein the mister is coupled to at leastone of the fan motor housing or the support shaft.
 15. The misting fansystem of claim 14, wherein the housing is made of a heat and humidityresistant thermoplastic.
 16. The misting fan system of claim 14, whereinthe mister further comprises a manifold assembly disposed within thehousing, the manifold assembly comprising an inlet for a pressurizedliquid, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with a fluid source.17. The misting fan system of claim 16, wherein the inlet is in fluidcommunication with a pump.
 18. The misting fan system of claim 14,wherein the mister further comprises a plurality of nozzles disposedwithin the housing and radially spaced apart from each other, whereineach of the plurality of nozzles is in fluid communication with themanifold assembly and includes an orifice for spraying the pressurizedliquid outwardly from the manifold assembly, and wherein the housingfurther includes a plurality of holes formed in an outer wall thereoffor allowing the pressurized liquid to spray outwardly from the housing;wherein each of the plurality of nozzles is at least partially disposedwithin the outer wall of the housing.
 19. The misting fan system ofclaim 18, wherein each of the plurality of nozzles is disposedcompletely within the outer wall of the housing.
 20. The misting fansystem of claim 18, wherein the manifold assembly further comprises aplurality of fittings, wherein the housing comprises a plurality ofsnap-fit connections spaced along an interior surface thereof forsecuring the plurality of fittings, and wherein each of the plurality offittings is coupled to a nozzle having an orifice formed therein forspraying the pressurized liquid outwardly from the manifold assembly.